red soxhttp://www.weei.com/taxonomy/term/1/all
enBobby V being considered for Trump posthttp://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212830381/bobby-v-being-considered-trump-post
<!--paging_filter--> <p><a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Valentine_Bobby-head-13.jpg"></a>Five years ago, Bobby Valentine was just about a week into his career as Red Sox manager. Now he may be on the verge of becoming a United States ambassador.</p><p><a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212830381/bobby-v-being-considered-trump-post" target="_blank">read more</a></p>red soxFri, 09 Dec 2016 05:18:50 +0000Rob Bradford2830381 at http://www.weei.comSources: Former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine being considered for United States Ambassador to Japanhttp://www.weei.com/sports/feed/blog/anonymous/sources-former-red-sox-manager-bobby-valentine-being-considered-united-st
<!--paging_filter--><p><div id="attachment_93926" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Valentine_Bobby-head-13.jpg"><img src="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Valentine_Bobby-head-13.jpg" alt="Bobby Valentine" width="150" height="210" class="size-full wp-image-93926" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Bobby Valentine</p></div>Five years ago, Bobby Valentine was just about a week into his career as Red Sox manager. Now he may be on the verge of becoming a United States ambassador.</p>
<p>According to multiple sources, Valentine is on a short-list of candidates for the job of United States Ambassador to Japan. The 66-year-old, who currently serves as Sacred Heart University&#8217;s athletics director, has engaged in preliminary discussions with President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s transition team regarding the position.</p>
<p>When contacted Thursday night, Valentine refused comment.</p>
<p>Such a move would be viewed as another unorthodox appointment by Trump, who named former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon to serve as the administrator of the Small Business Administration Wednesday.</p>
<p>Yet Valentine&#8217;s history, and connections to Trump and Japan, make the possibility of such a decision very real.</p>
<p>The former Red Sox manager has known both Trump and his brother, Bob, since the early 1980&#8217;s. He is also very close to Anthony Scaramucci, who is part of the Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee. And it was New Jersey governor Chris Christie who, according to a source, first surfaced Valentine&#8217;s name for the position.</p>
<p>The connections don&#8217;t stop there.</p>
<p>Valentine is still very popular in Japan, having managed the Chiba Lotte Marines for seven seasons, becoming the first U.S. born manager to win the Japan Series with a championship in 2005.</p>
<p>During the former big leaguer&#8217;s time in Japan, the Ambassador to Japan was Tom Schieffer, who also was president of the Texas Rangers during Valentine&#8217;s tenure as manager with the team. (Caroline Kennedy is the current ambassador, having been appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013.)</p>
<p>Valentine is friendly with current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who, like the former All-American, attended the University of Southern California.</p>
<p>A few other elements that may help Valentine&#8217;s case include Japan prioritizing bringing baseball back for the 2020 Summer Olympics, along with the athletic director&#8217;s familiarity with SoftBank Hawks owner Masayoshi Son. Son recently announced after a meeting with Trump that SoftBank would be investing $50 billion in America&#8217;s technology sector.</p>
<p>Valentine is also close with McMahon, who serves on the board of trustees at Sacred Heart (where a new student commons building is named after the former WWE executive).</p>
<p>Another recognizable name who served as Ambassador to Japan is former Vice-President Walter Mondale, who manned the post during President Bill Clinton&#8217;s administration, from 1993-96.</p>
<p>2020 baseball coming back<br />
Preliminary<br />
Short list<br />
Linda McMahahon, head of sports advisory commitment Sacred Heart<br />
Christie<br />
Scarmuci<br />
Only American to get Sho Rickey Award<br />
Avi Prime Minister went to USC, known for a while<br />
Tom Scheefer, Ambassador, President of Texas Rangers<br />
Son, Son 50 million infrastructure deal, owner SoftBank Hawks</p>
Blogred soxOtherFri, 09 Dec 2016 05:08:21 +00002830226 at http://www.weei.comUehara reportedly signs 1-year deal with Cubshttp://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212829626/uehara-reportedly-signs-1-year-deal-cubs
<!--paging_filter--> <p><a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Uehara_Koji-Red-Sox-head-15.jpg"></a>According to multiple reports, Koji Uehara is leaving the favorites to win the American League to sign with the team that is favored to win the World Series.</p><p><a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212829626/uehara-reportedly-signs-1-year-deal-cubs" target="_blank">read more</a></p>red soxFri, 09 Dec 2016 01:23:41 +0000Rob Bradford2829626 at http://www.weei.comKoji Uehara reportedly joining Cubs’ bullpenhttp://www.weei.com/sports/feed/blog/anonymous/koji-uehara-reportedly-joining-cubs%E2%80%99-bullpen
<!--paging_filter--><p><div id="attachment_90940" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Uehara_Koji-Red-Sox-head-15.jpg"><img src="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Uehara_Koji-Red-Sox-head-15.jpg" alt="Koji Uehara" width="150" height="225" class="size-full wp-image-90940" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Koji Uehara</p></div>According to multiple reports, Koji Uehara is leaving the favorites to win the American League to sign with the team that is favored to win the World Series.</p>
<p>Uehara has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal worth &#8220;around&#8221; $4.5 million to pitch for the Cubs. In Chicago, he would serve as one of the set-up men for newly-acquired closer Wade Davis.</p>
<p>Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said at the just-completed MLB Winter Meetings that his club did recently extend an offer to Uehara. Since then, however, the Sox traded for set-up man Tyler Thornburg to round out their bullpen.</p>
<p>The 41-year-old Uehara impressed after coming back from a torn pectoral muscle, not allowing a run in any of his 11 appearances after the injury. He finished his fourth season with the Red Sox totaling a 3.45 ERA in 50 appearances.</p>
<p>Uehara&#8217;s run with the Red Sox was remarkable, with the righty finishing the four years with a 2.09 ERA while going 86 for 98 in save opportunities. During that span opponents hit just .179 against him, with the Sox going 183-62 in his appearances. He also struck out 308 and walked 37 in that span.</p>
<p>Uehara would end up making $26.5 million with the Red Sox, having signed a one-year deal with a team option, followed by his two-year, $18 million contract.</p>
<p>Along with Davis, Uehara figures to be finishing off games with relievers Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/koji-uehara-close-to-signing-with-cubs.html">(The Boston Herald was first to report Uehara was close to signing with the Cubs, with Nikkan Sports first to report the deal was done.)</a></p>
Blogred soxOtherFri, 09 Dec 2016 01:19:46 +00002829641 at http://www.weei.comMoreland looks forward to joining 'gritty' Red Soxhttp://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212829201/moreland-looks-forward-joining-gritty-red-sox
<!--paging_filter--> <a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Moreland_Mitch-Rangers-head-15.jpg"></a> <p>The Red Sox opened the offseason hoping to add a left-handed hitting first baseman to provide some lineup balance and give Hanley Ramirez a chance to stay fresh at DH. On Thursday, they introduced him.</p><p><a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212829201/moreland-looks-forward-joining-gritty-red-sox" target="_blank">read more</a></p>red soxThu, 08 Dec 2016 22:43:23 +0000John Tomase2829201 at http://www.weei.comMitch Moreland looks forward to joining ‘gritty group of guys’ in Red Sox lineuphttp://www.weei.com/sports/feed/blog/anonymous/mitch-moreland-looks-forward-joining-%E2%80%98gritty-group-guys%E2%80%99-red-sox-lineup
<!--paging_filter--><div id="attachment_93043" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Moreland_Mitch-Rangers-head-15.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-93043" src="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Moreland_Mitch-Rangers-head-15.jpg" alt="Mitch Moreland" width="150" height="199" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Mitch Moreland</p></div>
<p>The Red Sox opened the offseason hoping to add a left-handed hitting first baseman to provide some lineup balance and give Hanley Ramirez a chance to stay fresh at DH. On Thursday, they introduced him.</p>
<p>The signing of Mitch Moreland may have been overshadowed by the Chris Sale blockbuster, but the Red Sox still have big plans for the Gold Glover, who agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal.</p>
<p>&#8220;Against right-handed starters, Mitch would be the first baseman,&#8221; said manager John Farrell on a conference call. &#8220;That gives us the flexibility to DH Hanley in that spot. We&#8217;re certainly open to his at-bats growing in number against left-handers. Last year was his best year against left-handers in his big league career. With Mitch getting everyday at-bats against right-handed starters at first base and Hanley moving to the DH spot alignment, we also have the ability against a quality left-handers that Hanley would go back to first base and then we have the ability to rotate some guys through the DH spot. His versatility, his strengths as a player are many. We feel this is a very good fit in a number of ways.&#8221;</p>
<p>Moreland, 31, is coming off a disappointing season that saw him hit .233 with 22 homers and a .720 OPS. However, in 2015 he hit .278 with 23 homers and an .812 OPS.</p>
<p>He still had multiple options in free agency as a low-cost bounce-back candidate, but chose Boston because of the roster and atmosphere.</p>
<p>&#8220;I had a couple options, but really just the whole fact that it&#8217;s a place I really wanted to play,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Getting the opportunity to come here and be a part of that winning environment, being a part of a winning environment and having a chance to go out and play for a championship is huge to me personally. This is a great option.</p>
<p>&#8220;What they were able to do last year, you knew you were in for a fight when you were playing these guys. It was a gritty group of guys that had a ton of talent. I like to think of myself as that type of player, as a gritty type player. Hopefully I felt like I could fit in here and move forward and try to help out and make that goal happen of winning a championship. That&#8217;s the main goal as far as playing this game for me. I feel like we&#8217;ve got a great opportunity here.&#8221;</p>
Blogred soxOtherThu, 08 Dec 2016 22:42:27 +00002829256 at http://www.weei.comDombrowski: Goal to be good for next 10 yearshttp://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212827931/dombrowski-goal-be-good-next-10-years
<!--paging_filter--> <p> Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was a guest of the Hot Stove Show on Wednesday night to discuss the Chris Sale trade and his general approach to the winter meetings, and he made it clear that despite trading prospects at a steady clip since arriving, he plans for the Red Sox to contend, &#8220;for the next 10 years.&#8221;</p><p><a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212827931/dombrowski-goal-be-good-next-10-years" target="_blank">read more</a></p>red soxThu, 08 Dec 2016 15:54:42 +0000John Tomase2827931 at http://www.weei.comRed Sox reacquire Rutledge in Rule 5 drafthttp://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212827926/red-sox-reacquire-rutledge-rule-5-draft
<!--paging_filter--> <a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Rutledge_Josh-Red-Sox-head-16.jpg"></a> <p>Josh Rutledge wasn&#8217;t gone for long.</p> <p>The infielder, outrighted off the 40-man roster in November, rejoined the organization on Wednesday when the Red Sox selected him from the Rockies in the Rule 5 draft.</p><p><a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212827926/red-sox-reacquire-rutledge-rule-5-draft" target="_blank">read more</a></p>red soxThu, 08 Dec 2016 15:51:00 +0000John Tomase2827926 at http://www.weei.comRed Sox reacquire infielder Josh Rutledge in Rule 5 drafthttp://www.weei.com/sports/feed/blog/anonymous/red-sox-reacquire-infielder-josh-rutledge-rule-5-draft
<!--paging_filter--><div id="attachment_101707" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Rutledge_Josh-Red-Sox-head-16.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-101707" src="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Rutledge_Josh-Red-Sox-head-16.jpg" alt="Josh Rutledge" width="150" height="210" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Josh Rutledge</p></div>
<p>Josh Rutledge wasn&#8217;t gone for long.</p>
<p>The infielder, outrighted off the 40-man roster in November, rejoined the organization on Wednesday when the Red Sox selected him from the Rockies in the Rule 5 draft.</p>
<p>Rutledge must remain on the big league roster or be offered back to Colorado.</p>
<p>&#8220;We did try to re-sign him,&#8221; Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters at the winter meetings. &#8220;He just thought his opportunity to play at the big-league level at this point would be more [elsewhere].&#8221;</p>
<p>Rutledge, 27, gives the Red Sox a right-handed utility infielder to complement the left-handed Brock Holt, as well as some short-term insurance at third base against Pablo Sandoval. He has hit .276 in parts of two seasons with the Red Sox.</p>
<p>He underwent knee surgery in August, which ended his season, but the Red Sox see a role for him in 2017.</p>
<p>&#8220;It lines up for him to be with our club,&#8221; Dombrowski told reporters. &#8220;We know him. We like him. It looks like there is a path for him.&#8221;</p>
Blogred soxOtherThu, 08 Dec 2016 15:50:21 +00002827936 at http://www.weei.comDave Dombrowski on Hot Stove Show: ‘Our goal is to be good for the next 10 years’http://www.weei.com/sports/feed/blog/anonymous/dave-dombrowski-hot-stove-show-%E2%80%98our-goal-be-good-next-10-years%E2%80%99
<!--paging_filter--><p><script data-ramp-widget="10321" data-ramp-seek="" data-ramp-related="true" data-ramp-item-id="117695742,117699675,117699624,117696335,117695770,117695760" data-ramp-auto-play="false" data-ramp-api-key="997ee0390d582c84473804a1b82e88c3" src="//embed.widget.cx/amd.js"></script><br />
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was a guest of the Hot Stove Show on Wednesday night to discuss the Chris Sale trade and his general approach to the winter meetings, and he made it clear that despite trading prospects at a steady clip since arriving, he plans for the Red Sox to contend, &#8220;for the next 10 years.&#8221;</p>
<p>Asked if he&#8217;d be comfortable trading any more top-flight prospects after shipping Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech, among others, to the White Sox for Sale, Dombrowski sounded a note of caution.</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d really prefer not to and I don&#8217;t think we really have to do that at this point, because we&#8217;re pretty deep,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But you never can tell what happens. You have to be careful. I mean, we have given up a lot of guys, but I also think we have a really good big league club. But you don&#8217;t want to just keep giving up those guys on a consistent basis.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our goal is to not only be good for the next three or four years, but our goal is to be good for the next 10 years. One of the challenges for us at this point, and we talked about it &#8212; the reason we have the talent we have here is because of the people in the room and their staffs. We have those people still with us with their staffs. It&#8217;s a challenge to them to go find those same type of talents. So I do think we can continue to do that.&#8221;</p>
<p>Dombrowski felt comfortable trading prospects because the core of his big-league club is so young, with 20-somethings Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley, and Andrew Benintendi.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have a young major league club all in all,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We do have a little bit more than you&#8217;d think player-wise, because right off the bat I can say, well who&#8217;s close to playing in the big leagues? You could say well, [Rafael] Devers is pretty close. [Sam] Travis is close. [Blake] Swihart is close. Marco Hernandez is close. So you start to say, hey, there are four guys who are pretty good right there. You don&#8217;t really need to replenish many players that would be leaving in the near future with the big league club. We haven&#8217;t given up our draft choices for the last couple of years, so that group of players from last year will go out there and get another full year under their development and we like a lot of those guys, too.&#8221;</p>
<p>Dombrowski makes no apologies for going for it.</p>
<p>&#8220;But us being aggressive, that&#8217;s part of the advantage of being in the Red Sox organization,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We can make these moves at the major league level to get better, but at the same time you can also go ahead and replenish your farm system by being aggressive, by signing players, and making good decisions.&#8221;</p>
Blogred soxOtherThu, 08 Dec 2016 15:40:56 +00002827921 at http://www.weei.comSource: Buchholz more available than Pomeranzhttp://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212827571/source-buchholz-more-available-pomeranz
<!--paging_filter--> <p><a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pomeranz_Drew-Red-Sox-head-16.jpg"></a>OXON HILL, Md.</p><p><a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212827571/source-buchholz-more-available-pomeranz" target="_blank">read more</a></p>red soxThu, 08 Dec 2016 13:26:57 +0000Rob Bradford2827571 at http://www.weei.comSource: Red Sox making Clay Buchholz available more than Drew Pomeranzhttp://www.weei.com/sports/feed/blog/anonymous/source-red-sox-making-clay-buchholz-available-more-drew-pomeranz
<!--paging_filter--><p><div id="attachment_108366" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pomeranz_Drew-Red-Sox-head-16.jpg"><img src="http://fullcount.weei.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pomeranz_Drew-Red-Sox-head-16.jpg" alt="Drew Pomeranz" width="150" height="218" class="size-full wp-image-108366" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Drew Pomeranz</p></div>OXON HILL, Md. &#8212; Dave Dombrowski <a href="http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2016/12/07/red-sox-notebook-dave-dombrowski-addresses-chris-sale-scissor-incident-teams-calling-on-starting-pitchers/">noted Wednesday night that the Red Sox had spent the day fielding calls</a> from teams interested in some of their starting pitchers. Specifically, the president of baseball operations noted, the focus from other clubs were on Eduardo Rodriguez, Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright and Clay Buchholz.</p>
<p>But, according to teams talking with the Red Sox, Dombrowski has seemingly prioritized dealing Buchholz over Pomeranz. In fact, one source suggested the Sox aren&#8217;t currently showing any inclination that they want to move Pomeranz.</p>
<p>Pomeranz would most likely result in a bigger haul for the Red Sox considering the lefty&#8217;s age (28), affordability (he will make around $4 million in arbitration), and potential (the southpaw finished with a 3.32 ERA in 30 starts in 2016).\</p>
<p>Considering Buchholz&#8217;s strong finish to his 2016 season &#8211; managing a 2.98 ERA in his final eight starts after a return tot he rotation &#8211; there would appear to be some interest in the 32-year-old. The roadblock in moving the righty, however, might be the $13.5 million he is slated to make in 2017, the final year of his deal.</p>
<p>Considering his success in the bullpen last season, Buchholz could be considered as a reliever heading into 2017. But the likelihood using the veteran righty in such a role with his price tag, and without the perceived need for late-inning relief help, such a scenario doesn&#8217;t seem likely.</p>
Blogred soxOtherThu, 08 Dec 2016 13:23:13 +00002827566 at http://www.weei.comHot Stove Show - How the Sox got Sale, 12-7-2016http://www.weei.com/sports/feed/audio/anonymous/hot-stove-show-how-sox-got-sale-12-7-2016
<!--paging_filter-->Mut and Tomase are joined by Rob Bradford to talk about just how the Red Sox were able to pull off this trade. Rob's sit down with Dave Dombrowski helps to reveal the timeline of the mega deal.Audiored soxOtherThu, 08 Dec 2016 01:56:00 +00002825751 at http://www.weei.comHot Stove Show - Chris Sale to Red Sox, 12-7-2016http://www.weei.com/sports/feed/audio/anonymous/hot-stove-show-chris-sale-red-sox-12-7-2016
<!--paging_filter-->Mut and John Tomase open the Hot Stove show debating the blockbuster Chris Sale trade. Tomase argues that you can like the trade, but dislike Dombrowski for gutting the Red Sox farm system.<br/><br/><b>[0:04:08]</b> ... like they gave up too much because they didn't. Gopac and Mike <b>Scott</b> <b>Baker</b> both be all stars want to win an MVP whatever you got Chris Sale he's the Cy Young winner. Not connect cast ... <br/><b>[0:17:22]</b> ... the all star break by Keith law. Yeah I didn't guys for <b>Adam</b> <b>Eaton</b> they Ira what happened there in Washington and they got. Jealous about all the winner some meetings talk one on to get ... <br/><b>[0:20:01]</b> ... I'm not CNN he's trading the ball well. What was that he. <b>Andrew</b> <b>Miller</b> was the centerpiece to acquire Miguel Cabrera yes right yeah that's and Miller was nothing I mean he was nothing till he ... <br/></br/></br/></br/></br/></br/>Audiored soxOtherThu, 08 Dec 2016 01:51:00 +00002825761 at http://www.weei.comRob Bradford chats with Dave Dombrowski at MLB Winter Meetingshttp://www.weei.com/sports/feed/audio/anonymous/rob-bradford-chats-dave-dombrowski-mlb-winter-meetings
<!--paging_filter-->WEEI.com's Rob Bradford sits down with Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski to talk about the Red Sox off season. They discuss how the blockbuster Chris Sale trade went down.<br/><br/><b>[0:01:03]</b> ... why is because we had a general managers' meeting actually schedule from <b>Major</b> <b>League</b> <b>Baseball</b> serve but he had to send one player. One person for the club. To attend that meeting was at 10 o'clock in ... <br/><b>[0:08:16]</b> ... to that he said. I now need to speak with his owner <b>Jerry</b> <b>Reinsdorf</b> I had talked to our individuals with <b>John</b> <b>Henry</b> and Tom Warner the night before kind of just fill them in a where we were. Just have so they knew and ... <br/><b>[0:14:00]</b> ... decisions. And also good decisions from a development of perspective or. A <b>Brian</b> <b>Bannister</b> and his group tort and we can somebody's arm action and all of a sudden. Somebody has much greater desire for them ... <br/></br/></br/></br/></br/></br/>Audiored soxOtherThu, 08 Dec 2016 01:45:00 +00002825771 at http://www.weei.com